Lord Eldon (in gown and wig) and George IV (wearing the "Green Bag" of evidence against the Queen) ride on a crocodile whose head is labeled "Deception"; both Eldon and the crocodile have tears pouring from their eyes. The blindfolded figure of Justice is caught in the jaws of the crocodile, her sword sent flying but her scale still clutched in her left hand. At the feet of the crocodile, baby crocodiles emerge out of eggs with labels such as “Disgrace,” “Blood sucker,” and “Quack"; they bear the likenesses of government officials, including Liverpool, Castlereagh, Leach, and Sidmouth, as well as of the witness Majocchi. Eldon carries a scepter inscribed “Oppression” in one hand, and a document that reads “Pains and Penalties” in the other; both have been struck by lightning from ominous thunderclouds, breaking the scepter and setting the scroll (and Eldon's wig) on fire. In the top left corner stands Queen Caroline in the light of an eye in the sky; a soldier stands in front of Caroline wielding his bayonet and rifle, claiming “Justice and Innocence shall be protected.” A man with a sword stands on the left edge of the design, calling out to an army (of public opinion?) that must be advancing on the scene; he says "Steady boys - Firmness and Truth - Caroline and Virtue forever.”
Description:
Title etched below image., In the style of John Lewis Marks, who etched other prints published by Benbow during this time period., Sheet trimmed within plate mark., Not in the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum., Window mounted to 27 x 39.7 cm, the whole then mounted to 39 x 58 cm., Mounted on leaf 9 in volume 2 of the W.E. Gladstone collection of caricatures and broadsides surrounding the "Queen Caroline Affair.", and Figures of "Liverpool," "Eldon," "Londondery [sic]," "Leach," "Sidmouth," and "Majocchi" identified in ink below image; date "Nov. 1820" written in lower right corner of mount.
Publisher:
Pubd. Novr. 1820 by Wm. Benbow, 269 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, Eldon, John Scott, Earl of, 1751-1838, Liverpool, Robert Banks Jenkinson, Earl of, 1770-1828, Sidmouth, Henry Addington, Viscount, 1757-1844, Castlereagh, Robert Stewart, Viscount, 1769-1822, Leach, John, 1760-1834, and Majocchi, Theodore, active 1820
